Device with a key-operated lock cylinder and with an electrical switching device, in particular an electronic lock for preventing a vehicle from being driven away

ABSTRACT

A device with a key-operated lock cylinder acts on a switching device as a function of the turning of a key. In addition to the key channel for holding the associated key and the tumblers, the cylinder core has a permanent magnet on its periphery. Similarly, in addition to a locking channel for the tumblers, the cylinder housing has at least one sensor which, when the cylinder core is actuated by the key, responds to the permanent magnet and activates the switching device via an evaluator. In order to secure the device against theft as a result of an unauthorized person replacing the cylinder core in the lock cylinder, an entire group of different cylinder cores is associated with the cylinder housing. They differ from one another with respect to at least one of their permanent magnets. In the device a given pair of cylinder core and cylinder housing is used as the lock cylinder which then has a given magnet code. When the lock cylinder is actuated by the key, the sensor detects the differences in the magnets. If the evaluator is programmed to a given magnet code, the evaluator responds only when the correct cylinder core corresponding to its magnet code is located in the lock cylinder when the lock Ls actuated by the key. If an unauthorized person replaces the cylinder core, the lock cylinder would have a different magnet code which cannot activate the device evaluator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to a device wherein in the area of lockcylinders, both mechanical and electrical components are used, which,when a key is used to operate the lock, activate or deactivateelectrical functions by way of the electrical switching device. The lockcylinder consists of a stationary cylinder housing with a rotatablecylinder core inside, which can be rotated by a properly fitting key.The mechanical components comprise a key channel which accepts the key,tumblers in the cylinder core, and a locking channel for the tumblers inthe cylinder housing. The electrical components include at least onepermanent magnet on the circumference of the cylinder core and a sensorin the cylinder housing, which, when the key is used to operate thecylinder core, responds to the permanent magnet. The sensor is connectedto an evaluator, which activates the electrical switching device whenthe key operates the lock. The lock cylinder of a device such as this ispreferably installed as a steering lock in the area of the steeringcolumn of a motor vehicle, and the electrical switching device containsthe electronics of the engine. Devices of this type are used to protectthe motor vehicle against theft. The device is then referred to as an“electronic device for preventing a vehicle from being driven away”.

2. Description of the Related Art

A device such as this is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,031. In thisdevice, the vehicle is protected from theft even after the thief haspulled the cylinder core of the lock cylinder axially out of thecylinder housing in order to manipulate the interior of the cylinderhousing. In this known device, the cylinder core has a radiallyspring-loaded retaining element, which, when the cylinder core isinstalled, snaps behind a shoulder on the housing. It is thus easy toinstall the cylinder core axially in the cylinder housing. When thecylinder core is torn out axially by the thief, the retaining elementdestroys the electrical connections of the sensor in the cylinderhousing and thus makes the device inoperable. This anti-theft protectionfails, however, when it is possible to use a break-in tool to move thespring-loaded retaining element into its release position with respectto the cylinder housing. In the case of devices in which the cylindercore is not connected to the cylinder housing by means of a snap-inattachment such as this, however, no anti-theft protection is present atall. The reason for this is as follows.

The anti-theft protection of vehicles equipped with these types of lockcylinders consists in that there are a large number of different lockcylinders, each of which has a different set of tumblers in the cylindercore. The cylinder core can thus be rotated only by a certain key whichfits this cylinder core. Whereas the cylinder housing has a uniformdesign, there are many different keys, and each key fits only thecorresponding, individual arrangement of tumblers in the cylinder core.To break open a lock equipped with a lock cylinder for which the properkey is not available, it is sufficient for the thief to tear out thecylinder core and replace it with a new cylinder core, for which he hasthe proper key. It makes no difference to the cylinder housing that theoriginal cylinder core has been replaced by a new one for which thethief has the proper key. This theft strategy also functions in the caseof the known device in which the cylinder core has a permanent magnetand the cylinder housing has a sensor, because the new cylinder corebought with the key also has a permanent magnet, which is then able toperform the same functions in the interior of the cylinder housing asthe permanent magnet of the torn-out cylinder core. The known devicethus does not offer adequate protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the task of developing a reliable device ofthe aforementioned kind, which is characterized by a high level ofprotection against manipulations of the lock cylinder by unauthorizedpersons. This is accomplished according to the invention by means of thefollowing features:

a group of different cylinder cores is assigned to the cylinder housingwith a sensor in a predetermined, fixed location;

where, although the cores have the same tumblers and can be actuated bythe same key, they differ from each other magnetically with respect toone at least one of the permanent magnets;

in that, for each application of the device, one cylinder core isselected from this group and paired with the cylinder housing to form amagnet-specific lock cylinder;

which, because of the selected cylinder core, forms a lock cylinder witha specific magnetic code;

in that the sensor detects the magnetic differences in the magnetic codeupon operation of the cylinder core by the key;

in that the evaluator can be set or programmed for the specific magneticcode of the lock cylinder used in the device; and

in that, after this setting or programming, the evaluator will respondby actuating the switching device upon operation of the key only whenthe selected cylinder core upon which the magnetic code is based is inthe lock cylinder.

The invention introduces a new variant of a lock cylinder for the knowndevice. What is available now is a family of cylinder cores which differfrom each other not only with respect to the arrangements of theirtumblers, these cores requiring different keys, of course, but stillbeing capable of working together with the same cylinder housing, butalso with respect to their magnetic properties, which still allows themto be installed in the same cylinder housing. According to theinvention, therefore, there are lock cylinders with identical housingswhich differ not only mechanically from each other on the basis of theirkey code but also electrically as a result of a “magnetic code”. When,in the case of the device according to the invention, a thief tears outthe cylinder core with its permanent magnet and replaces it with a newcylinder core also having a permanent magnet, he cannot circumvent thedevice according to the invention even though he has the right key.Because of the differences according to the invention between thepermanent magnets of the various cylinder cores, the new lock cylinderassembled in this way will usually have a different magnetic code. Thisis detected by the sensor, which therefore will not actuate theevaluator when the key is used to operate the newly installed cylindercore. The evaluator in the invention is still set or programmed for theold code. The replacement of the cylinder core does not benefit thethief in any way when the device according to the invention is present;the sensor is able to tell that the cylinder core is “wrong”. Theelectrical switching device is therefore not activated, and theattempted theft fails.

If it is possible not only to use the same number of permanent magnetsbut also to mount them at the same point on the individual cylindercores, the device will be especially simple in its design and alsoinexpensive to manufacture, provided that the cylinder cores to beinstalled in a standard cylinder housing can still be made magneticallydifferent from each other. In turns out that, to make them magneticallydifferent from each other, it is sufficient to vary their fielddirection. This can be easily done at the time the permanent magnets areinstalled in the individual cylinders. Permanent magnets with a specificorientation of their north pole-south pole axis are used, and sensorswhich are able to detect the orientation of the magnetic field areprovided. The number of different magnetic codes available depends onlyon the accuracy with which these sensors can distinguish betweendifferent magnetic field orientations. The selected rotational positionof the permanent magnet at the time it is installed in the cylinder coredetermines the magnetic code. This is very easy to accomplish. As aresult, the devices according to the invention can be manufactured atvery low cost. In addition, the sensor is able to determine theorientation of a magnetic field with a surprisingly high degree ofaccuracy, and it is thus possible to differentiate a large number ofmagnetic codes effectively and reliably.

It is also advantageous to incorporate a locking bar such as thatalready familiar from the state of the art into the cylinder core of thedevice according to the invention by designing the locking bar itself asa permanent magnet. This bar thus no longer serves to provide onlymechanical protection. The advantages which result from this measure aredescribed further below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Additional measures can be derived from the drawings, and the followingtext. The invention is directed to all of the new features andcombinations of features which can be derived from the claims, drawings,and text, even if they are not stated explicitly in the claims. Anexemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a lock cylinder of the deviceaccording to the invention along line I—I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an axial section of the lock cylinder in theviewing direction of arrow II of FIG. 1 in a partial, longitudinal crosssection;

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the basic design of theevaluator according to the invention, which is connected to the sensor;and

FIG. 4 shows a performance diagram of the sequence of magnetic fieldchanges detected by the sensor and the resulting voltage input valuessent to the evaluator when the key is inserted and the cylinder core isturned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Only the most essential parts of the device are shown in the drawingsand are to be supplemented by additional standard components. A lockcylinder 10 is shown, which has a cylinder housing 11. The housing isinstalled permanently in, for example, a motor vehicle in the area ofthe steering column lock. The housing can be designed as a sleeve, theinterior of which serves to hold the cylinder core 12, which is able toturn in the housing. Cylinder core 12 is the other part of lock cylinder10, and it has a key channel 13 for a key 20. In addition, a family oftumblers 14 is integrated into cylinder core 12, these tumblers beingpushed by springs toward key channel 13. This is illustrated by a forcearrow 15 in FIG. 1. The elastic force proceeds from springs 16,indicated schematically. As long as key 20 is absent, tumblers 14project into a locking channel 53 in cylinder housing 11. Key 20 has asuitable adjusting means 21, e.g., cutaway areas which create a certainprofile. When the key is inserted, these means cooperate withcomplementary control surfaces 17 of the various tumblers 14. Thustumblers 14 are disengaged from locking channel 53, as shown in FIG. 1.

A locking bar 31, which is able to move essentially in the radialdirection, is provided in an axial recess in cylinder core 12. This baris spring-loaded, as illustrated by force arrow 33 in FIG. 1. Springloading 33 tries to the keep locking bar in its extended, loweredposition shown in FIG. 1, but normally it is prevented from doing thisby tumblers 14. If, for example, a properly fitting key 20 has not beenfully inserted in key channel 13, tumblers 14 will assume a disorderedconfiguration in cylinder core 12 because of their spring loading 15,and the inner end of locking bar 31 will be held back at various pointsalong the longitudinal edges 18 of individual tumblers 14. As a result,the outer area of the locking bar projects radially beyond thecircumference 19 of the cylinder, thus assuming position 31′ illustratedin dash-dot line in FIG. 1. In this dash-dot position 31′, the lockingbar engages in a groove 22 in housing 11 and thus prevents the cylinderfrom turning, as illustrated by rotation arrow 23 in FIG. 1. Thusdash-dot position 31′ of the bar represents its “locking position”.

But when a properly fitting key 20 is inserted fully into cylinder core12, the various tumblers 14 are then positioned in the interior of thecylinder core 12 by key faces 21 in such a way that lateral recesses 24provided in the sides of the tumblers are all aligned with the inneredge of locking bar 31. In this situation, therefore, spring loading 33can move the locking bar into aligned lateral recesses 24, the bar thusassumes its lowered, pulled-out position 31 shown in FIG. 1, in whichits outer edge no longer projects beyond the circumference 19 of thecylinder. In this pulled-out position 31, therefore, locking bar 31 isno longer engaged in housing groove 22, for which reason this position31 of the bar turns out to be its “release position”. Now cylinder core12 can be turned by inserted key 20 in the direction of arrow 23.Turning stops (not shown) prevent cylinder core 12 from being turned ina direction opposite that of rotation arrow 23.

In addition, pulse springs (not shown) or the like ensure that cylindercore 12 is always held in the starting rotational position as shown inFIG. 1 until key rotation 23 occurs. In this starting rotationalposition, the outer edge of the locking bar, which is normally inlocking position 31′, is aligned with a sensor 35, which responds tomagnetic fields, this sensor being installed in cylinder housing 11.

This sensor can consist of a Hall-efffect device. It is recommended,however, that a so-called magneto-resistive element be used, which alsoresponds to changes in direction of the magnetic field. This isdescribed in greater detail below. Sensor 35 is lodged in an opening inhousing 11 and is located in the space above housing groove 22, whichcooperates in creating locking position 31′. In the present case,locking bar 31 is itself a permanent magnet. As an alternative, it wouldbe possible for locking bar 31 to be made of a ferromagnetic material,which is acted upon by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet locatedat some other point in the cylinder core, as a result of which the baritself can act as a magnet. As FIG. 2 shows, the axis of locking bar 31is parallel to the axis of cylinder 12.

If it is desired to do without the monitoring function, described ingreater detail below, which occurs when key 20 is inserted, it is alsopossible for locking bar 31 in a modification of the exemplaryembodiment to be nonmagnetic. Thus, at least one additional permanentmagnet 32 is provided in cylinder core 12, but this one, in contrast tomagnetic locking bar 31, remains stationary on cylinder core 12.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, permanent magnet 32, shown shaded with dots, islocated at a certain point on the circumference of cylinder core 12,which is offset with respect to locking bar 31. The orientation of themagnetic field of permanent magnet 32 is defined by its north pole N andits south pole S and is indicated by an arrow 30 in FIG. 2. Permanentmagnet 32 is mounted in a hole 52 let into circumferential surface 19 ofcylinder core 12. As suggested with dots, permanent magnet 32 could alsobe mounted in the same hole in cylinder core 12 so that its magneticfield assumes various other orientations 30′, 30″, etc., illustrated indotted line. Sensor 35 is in a position where it can detect theorientation of the magnetic field, which will be explained in greaterdetail on the basis of FIG. 4.

Sensor 32, however, can also determine the field strength of a permanentmagnet 32. As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and2, it would therefore be possible to provide a bar of magnetizablematerial instead of permanent magnet 32. As in the case of locking bar31 described above, this bar is acted upon by a magnet mounted a certaindistance away in cylinder core 12. Like object 32 of the exemplaryembodiment, this bar is mounted in a stationary manner in cylinder core12; it therefore represents a fixed bar. In this alternative embodiment,differences in the magnetic behavior of a fixed bar such as this can beeasily produced by varying its axial position, which is determined bysensor 35 when cylinder core 12 is subjected to rotation 23.

Distinctions between permanent magnets 32 as described above cantherefore be achieved by changing their magnetic field strength insteadof by changing the orientation of their magnetic fields. These changes,too, can be detected by sensor 35. Another method of creatingdifferences between them could be to mount permanent magnet or magnets32 on different parts of cylinder core 12, differences which sensor 35would obviously be able to detect immediately. It would also be possibleto provide more than one sensor 35 and to connect these sensors to acommon electronic evaluator 40.

An exemplary embodiment of an evaluator 40 is explained in greaterdetail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Sensor 35 is connected by an electric powerline 43, in which a series resistor 39 is inserted, and by a ground lead42 to a voltage source (not shown) and has two signal lines 51, 51′ forsending its measurement values. Sensor 35 can determine the exactorientation 30 of the magnetic field by measuring two field componentswhich are perpendicular to each other, namely, Bx and By, as will beexplained in greater detail on the basis of FIG. 4. An inverter (notshown) can be connected downline from the sensor if desired. Electricalvoltages in the form of an analog signal are obtained first. These areconverted in an A/D converter 26 to digital signals 36, which isindicated in FIG. 3. It would also be possible to use a comparatorinstead of this converter 26. Because of the Bx and By measurement ofthe magnetic field by way of the two signal lines 51, 51′, two digitalsignals 36 are obtained in the present case. These signals 36 arrive as“input values” at a computer 27 (microcomputer), which is provided witha memory unit 28. This connection between 26 and 27 can also consist ofa 4-bit or 8-bit parallel connection, as indicated by dashes in FIG. 3.In addition, sensor 35 is also connected directly by a wake-up line 25to the microcomputer.

Memory 28 is an EEPROM (electrical erasable programmable read-onlymemory). Computer 27 and memory 28 have a clock 29. At the output fromevaluator 40 [Note 6], a corresponding alternating-current signal isobtained, which is smoothed by a filter, illustrated by a resistor 37and a capacitor 38. A certain direct-current signal is thereforeobtained on line 41 leaving evaluator 40. In memory 28, evaluator 40 canbe programmed for certain individual digital signals 36 of the twomeasurement components Bx and By. Evaluator 40 will then respond onlywhen sensor 35 has identified these predetermined signals. Only in thiscase does evaluator 40 transmit a control signal on output line 41,which is connected to an electrical switching device (not shown), e.g.,the electronics of the engine of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 4 illustrates the way in which the device according to theinvention operates. Time is shown on the horizontal axis, and the valuesof the magnetic field strength Bx and By determined on-site by sensor 35and also the voltage signals 36 obtained in evaluator 40 are shown onthe vertical axis. Because of the two measurement components Bx and By,two voltages Ux and Uy, which are illustrated in FIG. 4 by lines ofdifferent thickness, are obtained in the present case in the evaluator.These are processed by computer 27 in the following way.

Initial segments 44, 44′ of the two curves Ux, Uy shown in dashed linein FIG. 4 represent the original state of the device according to theinvention, i.e., before the insertion of key 20. In the originalrotational position of FIG. 1, sensor 35 detects the magnetic fieldgenerated by the locking bar in locking position 31′, but this does notlead to the activation of evaluator 40. Sensor 35, as indicated bydash-dot lines in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, is at the point incylinder housing 11 where locking bar 31 is located when cylinder core12 is in its starting position. In this case, evaluator 40 is in an offor stand-by position. The motor vehicle equipped with the deviceaccording to the invention on the steering column lock is at astandstill. This changes, however, as soon as a properly fitting key 20is inserted in cylinder core 12.

When the motor vehicle is to be started, key 20 must, of course, firstbe inserted into cylinder core 12. This happens at time t1 of theperformance diagram of FIG. 4. As a result of the previously mentioneddrop of the locking bar from its locking position 31′ of FIG. 1 into itsrelease position 31, the magnetic field detected by sensor 35 alsodecreases. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 by vertical curve segments 45,45′ for Ux and Uy. The evaluator 40 awakens only when change 45, 45′ iswithin certain limiting values, which are programmed into memory unit28. For this purpose, the previously mentioned wake-up line 25 is used,which connects sensor 35 directly to computer 27. A magnetic fieldchange at 45, 45′ lying outside these limiting values is not noticed byevaluator 40. If the rotation of key 20 does not begin immediately,more-or-less long horizontal curve segments 46, 46′ for Ux and Uyfollow.

Starting at time t2 in FIG. 4, cylinder core 12 is turned in direction23. Magnetic locking bar 31 thus first moves away from sensor 35, forwhich reason the two curves have falling, curved segments 47, 47′. Then,however, permanent magnet 32 comes increasingly into the measuring rangeof sensor 35, which has the effect of making the two curves rise againat 48, 48′. When permanent magnet 32 reaches its closest position, thetwo curves Ux and Uy reach their corresponding maxima 50, 50′. Thishappens, according to FIG. 4, at time t3. Then, as cylinder core 12continues to turn in direction 23, the curves again have fallingsegments 49, 49′, because permanent magnet 32 is now moving farther awayfrom sensor 35.

The criterion for the activation of evaluator 40 can be the differenceΔU, which is the difference between the two curves Ux and Uy at or nearthe two maxima 50, 50′, for example. If a different cylinder core 12 isinserted into cylinder housing 11, the magnetic field orientation 30 ofwhich is different, e.g., with orientation 30′ or 30″ of FIG. 2, fromthat of the magnetic field of permanent magnet 32 located at the samepoint, then the heights of the two maxima 50, 50′ of FIG. 4 are changedto different values upon turning the key in direction 23. This has theresult of producing a different voltage difference ΔU. Memory unit 28 inevaluator 40, however, is programmed for certain values of ΔU, for whichreason, when cylinder cores 12 are exchanged, evaluator 40 is no longeractivated. As a result, therefore, it is no longer possible to steal themotor vehicle. In addition to the mechanical coding between key 20 andcylinder core 12 in conjunction with locking bar 31, there is also,according to the invention, a magnetic coding. This magnetic code isdetermined in the exemplary embodiment by orientation 30, 30′, or 30″,etc., of the magnetic field of only a single permanent magnet 32,located at the same point on the cylinder core 12. Through thecombination of a large number of such magnetically different cylindercores 12 with a cylinder housing 11 of the same type, a correspondinglylarge number of lock cylinders 10 with different magnetic codes isobtained.

As already mentioned, locking bar 31 itself is designed as a permanentmagnet in the exemplary embodiment, which can also be used todifferentiate one magnetic code from another. The lengths of verticalcurve segments 45, 45′ which result when key 20 is inserted intocylinder core 12, or the difference between them, can be stored inmemory unit 28 of evaluator 40. This itself can be used to turn onevaluator 40 as previously described. Specific magnetic codes can thusbe obtained simply by providing the various locking bars 31 in a groupof cylinder cores 12, which can be combined with a standard cylinderhousing 11, with different magnetic properties. This magnetic code oflocking bar 31 can be combined with the additional magnetic coderesulting from the use of permanent magnet or magnets 32. As a result, acorrespondingly large number of lock cylinders 10 which differ from eachother magnetically is obtained.

What is claimed is:
 1. Device with a key-operated lock cylinder (10) andwith an electric switching device, wherein the electric switching deviceactivates or deactivates certain electrical functions, in particularelectronic anti-theft measures for a motor vehicle, as a function of therotation of the key (23); wherein the lock cylinder (10) consists of astationary cylinder housing (11) and a cylinder core (12), supported inthe housing with freedom of rotation; wherein, in the interior of thecylinder core (12), in addition to tumblers (14) to prevent the corefrom turning in the cylinder housing (11), a key channel (13) is alsoprovided to accept the key (20) which can unlock the cylinder core (12);wherein at least one permanent magnet (32) is mounted on thecircumference (19) of the cylinder core (12); wherein, in the cylinderhousing (11), in addition to at least one locking channel for thetumblers (14), at least one sensor (35) is also provided, which respondsto the permanent magnet or magnets (32) on the cylinder core; andwherein the sensor (35) is connected to an evaluator (40), the sensor(35) responding by activating the switching device by way of theevaluator (40) when the lock is actuated by the key, wherein a group ofdifferent cylinder cores (12) is assigned to the cylinder housing (11)with a sensor (35) in a predetermined, fixed location; wherein, althoughthe cores have the same tumblers (14) and can be actuated by the samekey (20), they differ from each other magnetically with respect to oneat least one of the permanent magnets (32); wherein, for eachapplication of the device, one cylinder core (12) is selected from thisgroup and paired with the cylinder housing (11) to form amagnet-specific lock cylinder (10), which, because of the selectedcylinder core (12), forms a lock cylinder (10) with a specific magneticcode; wherein the sensor (35) detects the magnetic differences in themagnetic code upon operation of the cylinder core (12) by the key;wherein the evaluator (40) can be set or programmed for the specificmagnetic code of the lock cylinder (10) used in the device; and wherein,after this setting or programming, the evaluator (40) will respond byactuating the switching device upon operation (23) of the key only whenthe selected cylinder core (12) upon which the magnetic code is based isin the lock cylinder (10).
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein,although the various cylinder cores (12) of a related group have thesame number of permanent magnets (32), and the permanent magnets (32) inthe individual cylinder cores (12) of this group are also mounted in thesame locations (52), at least one of these permanent magnets (32)differs with respect to its field orientation (30) and/or with respectto its field strength from the analogous permanent magnets (32) of allthe other cylinder cores (12) of this group.
 3. Device according toclaim 1, wherein, although the cylinder cores (12) of a related grouphave the same number of permanent magnets (32), at least one of them isin a position different from that of all the other cylinder cores (12)of this group.
 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (35)or sensors consist of a magnetoresistive element.
 5. Device according toclaim 1 with a radially movable locking bar (31) in the cylinder core(12), which bar, after the key (20) has been removed, is held in alocking position (31′) projecting radially beyond the cylindercircumference (19), where it engages in a groove (22) provided in thecylinder housing and thus prevents rotation (23) of the core, but whicharrives in a lowered release position when a properly fitting key (20)is inserted, in which position it disengages itself from the housinggroove (22) and allows the key (20) to turn the cylinder (23), whereinthe locking bar (31) is itself designed as a permanent magnet or ismagnetizable, the sensor (35) being seated on the point of the cylinderhousing (11) which is radially aligned with the locking bar (31) whenthe cylinder core (12) is located in the starting rotational position,which starting rotational position is the position in which the key (20)can be inserted and removed; and in that, as soon a properly fitting key(20) is inserted, the sensor (35) responds to the changes in themagnetic field (45, 45′) which occur as a result of the lowering of thelocking bar (31) out of its locking position (31′) into its releaseposition and which are set or programmed into the evaluator (40), theresponse consisting of the actuation of the evaluator (40).